Logistical Information

TENERIFE

The island of Tenerife is full of charming spots – the kind of places that will make you struggle to find the words to describe them or explain how it feels to be there. An impressive volcano, magical laurel forests, buildings with impossible structures and staggering cliffs by the sea. These are must-sees that you simply cannot miss as they represent the very essence of the Island.

  • Anaga Country Park
  • Historic quarters
  • Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria Basilica
  • Drago Park
  • Teide National Park
  • Teno Country Park
  • The Cliffs of Los Gigantes
  • Whale and dolphin watching

 

Tourist Information Office:

  • Address: Calle Carrera Escultor Estévez, 5. 38300 Villa de la Orotava
  • Telephone: 922 323 041
  • Fax. 922 334 512
  • Email: turismo@villadelaorotava.org

Opening hours: from 8:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Friday. Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 to 13:00.

Congress Venue map

Grastonomy

The fact that there are so many different microclimates on the same island and that the municipality of La Orotava is the largest in Tenerife, leads us to the diversity of typical dishes that we can find. From the mild fish of our coast to the stews, full of calories, of our midlands, there are only fifteen minutes by car. A rich gastronomy that stands out for its simplicity, for the wisdom of its combination, for the rich products of the land and the sea that surround us, ready to satisfy the best palate. There is no doubt that no self- respecting Canarian table should be without any of these three delicacies: gofio, mojo and the good wine of our Valley, which preserves the traditional harvesting of the grapes and the traditional braided cordon,
unique in the world.

There is no doubt that the Guanches knew about gofio before the arrival of the first settlers on the island. This flour is obtained by grinding the previously toasted grain of a cereal (millet, wheat, barley or even both), an indispensable accompaniment that is eaten with broth, milk, honey, almonds… and which today continues to surprise us with its high nutritional value.

The mojos, of which the most famous are the green (or coriander) and the mojo picón (or red), of which there are several variants, but which is normally made with garlic, coarse salt, cumin, pepper, breadcrumbs, olive oil and vinegar. The first is usually used for fish and the second for meat, always accompanied by the potatoes from the highlands of La Orotava, which are of a quality that is difficult to compare, the most appreciated of which are the “bonitas”, the black potatoes (ash grey on the outside, yellow and buttery on the inside). And of course, all washed down with a good wine from the Valley, volcanic aromas on the palate.

The cheeses, which are usually eaten fresh, with a smooth, white rind and a mild, pleasant flavour, are commonly served as a starter to the main meal, white cheeses from Pinolere and Benijos.

And what about fish? The vieja, parboiled, is an exquisite delicacy with a delicate palate. Its preparation is simple, but it needs a special touch. Sea bream, roasted on the grill; moray eel, fried and crispy; the famous casserole, of wreckfish or grouper, usually accompanied by a stew of gofio mixed with the broth from the stew; chicharros, fried; tuna, creative cuisine on the rise; limpets, grilled, cuttlefish, in sauce; samas, cabrillas, bocinegros, cockerels, octopus, galanas, brotas, a whole unimaginable variety, each with its own precise preparation and best fresh from our Atlantic larder. Although we must not disdain the salted fish and jareado.

Among the meat dishes, the rabbit in salmorejo stands out, the main protagonist of our gastronomy, a sauce which is made with the personal touch of each cook and which is particularly popular in our municipality. The puchero canario, a succulent stew of beef and pork, garbanzas, chorizo, pineapple, potatoes, bubangos? A real spectacle! The kid in its different forms, the meat in sauce, carne de fiesta (marinated pork) and food of pineapples and ribs. And of course, now you can enjoy the rich Olotvenese pastries, huevos moles, bienmesabe, frangollo, leche asada and quesillo, homemade sweets and desserts, fruits of our Valley.

But if your curiosity is not piqued, apart from Canarian gastronomy restaurants, La Orotava has magnificent restaurants of international gastronomy, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Turkish or creative cuisine, for which we detail in the following chapter, the specialities of each one so that you can choose to your liking.

La Orotava

The name of this municipality located in the north of Tenerife, which also occupies part of the centre of the island, comes from the name that the Guanches gave to this area, “Arautava” or “Arautapala”. It is the largest municipality on the island, with 207.31 km2, and the one with the largest forest area: Approximately 78% of the Teide National Park is part of the municipality of La Orotava. The historic centre of the municipality is located at an altitude of 390 metres above sea level and was declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1976. Its streets are dotted with buildings of great heritage interest and places of great importance to the municipality, including the Universidad Europea de Canarias. The Orotava Valley has always been characterised by its impressive landscape crowned by Mount Teide, its abundance of water, its beautiful gardens and its pleasant climate. However, it has many protected natural areas, such as part of the Teide National Park and the Corona Forestal Nature Reserve, the Pinoleris Nature Reserve and the protected landscape of La Resbala.

The typical balconies that adorn the façades of its traditional houses, the carpets of flowers and volcanic earth that are made every year in La Orotava during the Corpus Christi celebrations, and its traditional Easter Week, which has been celebrated since the 17th century, are well known.

Carnival:

Joy and colours flood the streets and you feel like the protagonist of a great improvised show. There is nothing to stop you from enjoying what you have been waiting for all year: Carnival. The island’s most emblematic festival, which has been spreading smiles and filling Tenerife with rhythm, glitter and debauchery for centuries.

You can’t think of a better place than the street to enjoy Carnival. The decorations, the music from the kiosks, the tide of people in costume who only think about having a good time… The parades and open-air events are where you breathe the true spirit of the carnival-goer, from the youngest to the most veteran. The parade, the bullring, the burial of the sardine and the party every night bring together family and friends to enjoy the joy of Carnival.

If you are truly passionate about Carnival, a week of partying is not enough. You refuse to let it end so quickly and you start to move around the island looking for a bit more music and colour. You can easily find it, as there are many municipalities that await you with their traditions and the most authentic version of their Carnival (Candelaria, Guimar, Los Gigantes, Los Cristianos, Puerto de la Cruz, Tacoronte).

Groupings and competitions

Once again this year, the competition between your friends is guaranteed. The competitions of murgas, comparsas and rondallas leave you in the middle of passionate discussions about who has the most critical lyrics, the most spectacular choreography or the best musical arrangement. Beyond the competition, the aim of all the groups is to fill the streets of Tenerife with the best rhythms and the liveliest dances.

Carnival by day

After a whole night of dancing and fun, you still have enough energy left to enjoy the other side of Carnival: the daytime party. Groups of friends and entire families walk alongside you in their best costumes in search of a stage, a batucada or another group of carnival-goers. People of all ages and backgrounds mingle in the daylight, with the sole intention of having a good time and making the most of every second of Carnival.
The weekend after the symbolic burial of the Carnival, the Friday and Saturday of the piñata, gives carnival-goers the opportunity to burn the last cartridges of laughter and fun. On these nights, like those experienced at the beginning of this Carnival week, the preparations for costume and make-up, the meetings with friends, the endless dances and the dawn break are relived. However, the party is not only at night. For some years now, the Carnival by Day has been held from midday on Saturday, which fills the streets of the centre with people of all ages and even entire families, who come out together to enjoy a party for everyone.
The live musical performances on the different stages (such as the one in Plaza del Príncipe, Plaza de la Candelaria or Calle Castillo), the troupes and groups that go through the streets of the city with their batucadas or the colourful and smiling carnival-goers, make this festival a massive costume ball that brings together tens of thousands of people every year.

The Carnival Queen

The glitter of the sequins, the feathers, the colours, the texture of the fabrics… The enormous structure that surrounds the candidates is impressive and each fantasy seems to be taken out of a fairy tale. The beauty and the carefree nature of all of them make it even more difficult to choose your favourite design. That is the aim of the show, to choose the best representative of the joy and passion of the people of Tenerife for these festivities: the Carnival Queen.

The galas have become bigger and more majestic over the years. From the ones held in the Teatro Guimerá, to the mythical ones in the Plaza de España, to the latest ones, with the stage in the International Trade Fair and Congress Centre. With the changes of location, the show has also evolved, becoming more lively and spectacular. The light, the sounds, the carnival groups and the candidates for queen round off an event that is followed with interest both live and on the television channels that broadcast it, and which ends with the designation of the Tenerife Carnival Queen, who will be the ambassador of the island and the festival for a whole year.

Logo UE

V INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
ON TOURISM DYNAMICS AND TRENDS